Dimapur, June 21 (MExN): The Lotha Public Organisation (LPO) today alleged that the “present dispute over the authority of the Lotha Baptist Churches Association (LBCA)” started after the Lotha Hoho “without any authority” selected an interim body of Association on March 18, 2022 despite an existing body.
There was existing body legally constituted and a disputed case was pending disposal in the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench, the LPO stated, while stressing that its assessment is based on observation of records.
The Government of Nagaland after going through the documents of the ongoing spar between the members of Lotha Baptist Churches' had “wisely” given its direction to the church members to maintain status quo as on March 18 (before formation of interim body) till the outcome of the litigation pending in HC Kohima Bench, the LPO said.
However, the dispute started after the Hoho selected the interim body, asserted a press release issued by LPO President, Sulanthung Humtsoe and Vice President, Phyobemo Odyuo.
It further pointed an order issued by the HC Bench on February 3 had given a direction to the Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC) to “sort out the dispute” as it was a church matter.
“The court had at no point of time given any authority to the Lotha Hoho to meddle in the imbroglio of the dispute of the LBCA,” the LPO stated. It further alleged that despite State’s Government’s' directive to maintain status quo on March 18, the interim body is “attempting to proceed with their activities defying” the government directions dated June 10.
While Lotha Hoho has claimed that it is not interfering with government directives, the present dispute is to displace the officially elected LBCA by an interim body it constituted, hence the former is solely responsible, the LPO held.
Meanwhile, the LPO urged the Home Department to review the Lotha Hoho’s memorandum for dissolving LBCA invoking the Article 371(1) (A) and 16-Point Agreement.
To this end, the LPO said that while the Apex Tribal Hoho recognised as a statutory body as per The Nagaland Village and Tribal Council Act, 1978, (Fourth Amendment 2009), it does not empower the tribal Hoho's to overrule the religious institutions or any organisation. Furthermore, since from the inception of the Lotha Hoho there has been no peaceful atmosphere in the Lotha community as this organization has been formed without proper guidelines, it alleged.
In this connection, the LPO stated that the “present Lotha Hoho led by Er Mhondamo Ovung and Abenthung Ngullie have lost all moral rights to lead the Lotha people” and demanded the duo to “step down immediately and pave the way for the new leadership.”
The LPO further appealed the Baptist Church members to reconcile and come together to maintain the sanctity of the LBCA.
